In a new interview about the project, director Ron Howard confirms that production has been pushed back due to "budget delays and ongoing story development and logistical interviews," but it's his comments about Bardem that have our eyebrows raised.

"I can't really say who'll be in it yet, but Javier Bardem has shown a great deal of interest," he told Entertainment Weekly. "We'll know by the end of the summer, when our flashing green light goes solid."

Bardem was "psychologically" committed to the role as of Oscar season, with his participation seemingly official as recently as April. Now, based on Howard's latest comments, it sounds as though the potential gunslinger has only "shown a great deal of interest," indicating that he isn't quite as committed to playing Roland Deschain as was previously thought. Was a deal never finalized? Have things changed because of recent shifts in the production time-line? Are we making something out of nothing, and Bardem is still really zoned in on Roland?

Valid questions, all of them, with few answers at the moment. For what it's worth, Howard feels confident that production will get underway in early 2012, Bardem or not: "We're thinking of starting in early spring now."

Do you want Bardem for "The Dark Tower," or are you hoping to see someone else in the role of Roland? If not Bardem, who do you think is the perfect choice to play the gunslinger? Let us know your take in the comments section and on Twitter!